The global standard in economics — available in India
The Ch.E® from AAFM USA is the world's first graduate economics designation, now available to Indian professionals and graduates — 100% online, globally recognised, and built for the real world.
Beyond the degree: why India’s economics professionals are choosing professional designations
A university degree demonstrates academic foundation. A globally recognised professional designation demonstrates applied competence — and that distinction is increasingly decisive for employers and clients.
The Indian economy is among the fastest-growing in the world, and demand for qualified economics professionals is rising sharply across banking, policy, consulting, and corporate finance. Yet the supply of graduates with a verifiable, internationally recognised credential in applied economics remains limited.
This is the gap that economics certifications address. Unlike postgraduate degrees — which take two or more years and are expensive to pursue — a professional designation like the Chartered Economist® (Ch.E®) is designed to be completed in months, at a fraction of the cost, and entirely online. It builds directly on existing qualifications, adding the applied skills and the credential that distinguish a practitioner from a graduate.
The Ch.E® is the Gold Standard in this space: it is the world’s first graduate economics designation, has been awarded since 1996, and is recognised in 150+ countries via 800+ universities, colleges, and training partners. In India, it is delivered through AAFM India and the USA-ACER e-learning platform.
What a globally recognised economics designation means for your career in India
India’s largest employers — multinational banks, global consulting firms, KPOs, research houses, and public sector undertakings — increasingly operate within international standards and recruit against global benchmarks. A domestically issued certificate may not carry weight in these environments. A designation issued by AAFM USA and verifiable online by any employer anywhere in the world does.
AAFM is accredited by bodies including the AACSB and ACBSP and has recognition agreements with the Asian Bankers Association and other global professional bodies. The certification is also used as an entry-level benchmark at some of the world’s most prominent financial institutions and economic research organisations.
Corporate members of AAFM India give first preference to Ch.E® holders in recruitment — making the designation directly actionable in the Indian job market, not just internationally.
The world’s first graduate economics designation, with nearly three decades of track record.
Universities, colleges, and training providers globally deliver or recognise the Ch.E® curriculum.
Pearson VUE test centres across 150+ countries, including hundreds across India.
AAFM’s online authentication system lets any employer instantly verify your credential.
Seven specialisation tracks — one globally recognised standard
The Ch.E® is the foundation designation. Seven specialised tracks allow professionals to go deeper in a sector that matches their career focus.
| Designation | Focus area | Suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Chartered Economist® (Ch.E®) | General applied economics — micro, macro, quantitative, statistical, and sector economics | Graduates and professionals seeking a broad, globally verifiable economics credential |
| Chartered Petroleum Economist® (Ch.PE®) | Economics of petroleum markets, pricing, and policy | Professionals in oil & gas, energy consulting, and commodity markets |
| Chartered Industrial Economist® (Ch.IE®) | Industrial organisation, firm theory, market structure | Manufacturing sector economists, competition regulators, policy analysts |
| Chartered Managerial Economist® (Ch.ME®) | Economics applied to business decision-making and strategy | Corporate managers, business strategists, MBA graduates entering economics roles |
| Chartered Financial Economist® (Ch.FE®) | Financial markets, asset pricing, monetary economics | Investment analysts, fixed income professionals, central bank economists |
| Chartered Energy Economist® (Ch.EE®) | Energy markets, policy, and transition economics | Power, renewables, and utilities sector professionals |
| Chartered Health Economist® (Ch.HE®) | Health systems, pharmaceutical economics, outcomes analysis | Healthcare and insurance sector analysts, public health policy professionals |
| Chartered Economic Policy Analyst® (CEPA®) | Economic policy design, analysis, and evaluation | Government economists, think-tank researchers, public sector analysts |
Full details of all tracks are on the Ch.E® Overview page. Curriculum for the general Ch.E® — covering six applied modules — is on the Curriculum page.
The Ch.E® is right for you if…
The designation serves a wide range of candidates — from fresh graduates to senior professionals — across India’s economics, finance, and policy sectors.
Recent graduates
Economics, finance, statistics, or mathematics graduates looking to add a globally recognised professional credential before or alongside their first role.
Working economists and analysts
Research analysts, credit analysts, risk professionals, and corporate finance staff who want to validate and advance their applied economics expertise.
Career changers
Professionals from accounting, banking, statistics, or management who are moving into economics-intensive roles and need a recognised credential to support the transition.
Professors and researchers
Academic economists who want to add a practitioner credential to their profile and access AAFM’s global professional network and corporate tie-ups.
The Ch.E® programme assumes no prior knowledge of economics beyond a bachelor’s level foundation. It is equally accessible to candidates from PhD and MPhil backgrounds as to those with a B.A. or B.Sc. in economics or a related subject. For students still completing their degree, the programme can be started after graduation.
To understand whether the Ch.E® — or one of its seven specialised variants — is right for your specific background, book a free career advisory call with AAFM India.
Explore every step of the Ch.E® journey
The Chartered Economist pathway is a connected set of pages — start anywhere, each links back here.
Become a Chartered Economist® — apply economics to real decisions
Give a course advisor 15 minutes and walk away with a clear plan, fee options and your next batch date — no pressure, no jargon.
Frequently asked questions — economics certifications in India
The Chartered Economist® (Ch.E®) is a professional designation, not an academic qualification. It certifies that a holder has applied, practitioner-grade skills in economic analysis — skills that sit on top of, and complement, a university degree in economics or a related field. The certification is awarded by AAFM USA and recognised in 150+ countries.
Yes. AAFM India is the Indian chapter of the American Academy of Financial Management USA. Corporate members of AAFM India give first preference to Ch.E® designation holders in recruitment. The designation is also recognised internationally across banking, consulting, government, and multinational organisations.
The general Ch.E® covers the full breadth of applied economics. Specialised tracks — petroleum, energy, health, financial, industrial, managerial, or economic policy — are suited to professionals working in or targeting a specific sector. Speak with an AAFM India adviser to identify the right fit for your background and goals.
Most candidates complete within a few months of self-paced study. The programme is 100% online via the USA-ACER e-learning system, so you can start at any time and progress at your own pace alongside work or other commitments.
Economics graduates and professionals with the Ch.E® pursue roles in investment banking, research analysis, credit and risk analysis, economic consulting, asset management, corporate finance, policy analysis, and academia. The designation is also valued in KPOs, research houses, think-tanks, and government bodies.
AAFM India offers a wide range of finance and management designations including the Chartered Wealth Manager® (CWM®) and Chartered Trust and Estate Planner® (CTEP™). Within the Ch.E® family, seven specialisation designations allow sector-specific credentialing. Visit the AAFM certifications page for the full list.
Start your Ch.E® journey today
Request a call back and our counsellors will share the full syllabus, specialisations, fees, batch options and the next start date — and help you choose the right path.